"Rhiannon is one of the most beloved goddesses of the Welsh pantheon. She is often depicted riding through Wales on a beautiful white horse. Her story reads much like a fairy tale. It was at Beltaine, that Pwyll, ruler of Dyfed in Southern Wales beheld a beauiful woman, richly clad, riding across the countryside. He is instantly smitten by her beauty and sends his messengers to to find out, but no matter how fast they ride, they cannot catch up with Her...even though Her horse appears to be walking at a slow, even pace. Finally, Pwyll himself rides off after Her, but He, too, cannot catch up to Her...no matter how fast he rides. He drives his horse to exhaustion, but She always remains the same distance away from him...until he finally calls out "Lady, for the sake of the one you love, please stop for me." She stops and their love for each other becomes a part of legend.

She marries Pwyll, and they have a son who is born on May Day. At some point during the night, the baby is kidnapped and because Rhiannon's attendants are frightened that they might be blamed, they kill a puppy and smear its blood all over Rhiannon in order to make it seem as if She killed Her own child. For Her punishment, She has to wait by the horseblock at the fortress gate, greet every person coming to the palace, tell them of her crime, and then carry the visitors into the court on Her back. She is sentenced to do this every day for seven years. Symbollically, She is made to be a horse carrying a burden.

The legend goes that Rhiannon's baby had been stolen by a demon who then went on to steal a horse. But, after the fourth year, a farmer and his wife arrive with their foster son, who had mysteriously appeared at the childless couples doorstep...the very same night that his favorite mare had borne a colt and disappeared. The couple decided to keep the child and raise him as if he were their own.. However, after they heard Rhiannon's tale about losing her baby, they realize that their child is actually Her child and return him back to the palace. She rejoices in tears when Her child was restored...proving that She had not done such a dastardly act after all.

"HORSES AREN'T THE ONLY ANIMALS RELATED TO RHIANNON--SONGBIRDS ARE SACRED TO HER AS WELL, SO SHOW YOUR DEVOTION TO HER BY FEEDING THE BIRDS...IN YOUR BACKYARD, IN THE PARK, THE FIRE ESCAPE. "

"RHIANNON IS A GODDESS WHO ENDURES SUFFERING AND CAN BE CALLED ON AS A BEARER OF BURDENS. SHE CAN LEND HER STRENGTH WHEN YOU UNDERTAKE A DIFFICULT TASK. TAKE COURAGE FROM RHIANNON WHO HAD BEEN WRONGLY ACCUSED, AND AS A RESULT, SUFFERED HER BURDEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE--INCLUDING OURSELVES--WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGLY ACCUSED BY OTHERS OR BY GOSSIPY FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS. SADLY, IT IS CHILDREND AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHO ARE ESPECIALLY PRONE TO THESE PAINFUL INCIDENTS. LET US CARE FOR THEM."